West London Letstart
The West London Letstart scheme has been initially developed through a grant from the government's Homelessness Innovation Fund and is a way for the boroughs to work together more closely with private sector landlords and lettings agents to achieve our programme to prevent homelessness by assisting people to take up a private sector tenancy.
A website has been set up which allows properties to be uploaded by landlords and viewed by potential tenants who meet the councils' criteria. The suite was launched on May 6th 2008, and we are hopeful that it will assist us to access more suitable accommodation of this type as well as providing a better faclitiy to record information about properties and tenancies.
There is considerable potential to use the Letstart scheme to provide move on accommodation for single people leaving Supporting People accommodation and for people on the waiting list for social housing to opt for a private sector solution if sufficient properties are available. We are piloting a programme with A3 Countrywide to find suitable private sector accommodation outside London for clients who wish to move away from the city.
West London boroughs are working together to provide a training programme for tenants wishing to move into private sector tenancies to assist with long term tenancy sustainment.
www.westlondonletstart.com
Landlords wishing to provide properties for letting through the scheme can in some circumstances access a West London Better Homes Grant to help bring the property up to the Decent Homes standard.
Last updated: 20 December 2011